Longleng deputy commissioner K. Libanthung Lotha along with SDO (C) Changtongya jointly inspected the sinking area of the road between Dikhu and Changtongya on July 24 and found that unless the road was repaired with additional machineries and manpower at the earliest, the entire Longleng district except Tamlu sub-divisional would be totally cut off from the rest of the state.

DC in a letter addressed to executive engineer PWD (NH) has requested for immediate restoration of the road in between Dikhu and Changtongya leading to Longleng.

Further, the DC added that for the last 20 to 25 days, the area was facing shortage of essential commodities in view of the weak bridge over Dikhu where light and medium loaded vehicles were allowed to pass through.

In view of the sinking of the road between Dikhu and Changtongya only light vehicles could able to cross w.e.f July 24 causing acute shortage of essential commodities.

In this connection, the DC has informed all public to transport essential commodities by medium and light vehicles only and all heavy vehicles and passenger vehicles off the road.

DC requested the executive engineer to take up the issue with Mayatas-Gayatri Company on top priority for diversion of the road and for bolder filling of the sinking area.

Further, DC stated that 24 hour machineries and manpower should be made available at the sinking area to enable at least vehicles to cross/pass in order to minimize the hardship that the travelers are going through and also to transport at least minimum essential commodities.

Meanwhile, general public of Longleng has voiced resentment against the negligence of the authorities with regard to the pathetic road condition of Changtongya-Longleng road which is the lifeline of Longleng district.

Former MLA from Longleng, M. Shami Angh, in a press release stated that while appreciating the construction of two lane road, said with the onset of monsoon, the road stretching 32 Km have now become a “nightmare” for travellers due to irresponsible workmanship and negligent by the contractor in-charge and the government.

Former MLA said adding to the misery was the weak Dikhu river bridge which was on the verge of collapse due to heavy machineries of construction company who were allowed to pass the already weak bridge by PWD department, Longleng, instead or rerouting through the river.

Due to appalling road condition and weak Dikhu bridge, heavy vehicles/essential carrier vehicles were unable to travel and due to which, the cost of essential commodities in Longleng have shot-up beyond imagination.

The former MLA further appealed to contractor, EE, PWD, Longleng, and present MLA to take notice of the present ground situation and take immediate and preventive measures by stationing JCBs for road clearance at specific locations till the monsoon was over, to arrange vehicles for transportation of essential commodities from Dikhu river bridge to Longleng town, to direct the land donors to cease the works of quarrying stone at the road side in order  to avoid landslides, to construct road drainage (makeshift) and to check the price of essential commodities so that common public are not made to suffer.